Eight-year-old Torquay girl Zayli King battles bone cancer

A Torquay family had their world turned upside down after taking their eight-year-old daughter to the doctor with a stiff neck.

Torquay’s Zayli was recently diagnosed with bone cancer.

An eight-year-old Torquay girl is battling a rare and aggressive form of bone cancer after a shock diagnosis.

Three weeks ago, Sally King said life was normal for her family, husband David King, and their daughters Zayli, 8, and Tarli, 20.

Mrs King said Zayli was a happy, healthy grade three pupil who loved her friends, school, basketball and dance.

Then, in late April, Zayli suddenly started to complain of a stiff neck.

Her mum took her to the GP and she was sent off for an X-ray and an MRI.

Mrs King said the family’s life was turned upside down within hours.

“We got a call from the Royal Melbourne saying we needed to come down right away,” Mrs King said.

“We threw a few clothes in a bag and here we are three weeks later.”

Mrs King said doctors discovered a tumour wrapped around Zayli’s spinal chord.

The tumour was found to be a rare and aggressive form of bone cancer called Ewing’s Sarcoma.

Zayli underwent an emergency surgery that took nearly nine hours.

Doctors were unable to remove the entire tumour during the surgery because it was pressing on her spinal chord.

Mrs King said her daughter had a second surgery where more of the tumour was removed and part of Zayli’s vertebrae was replaced with a metal brace and plates.

A surgeon will later insert stabilisation rods.

On Monday, Zayli was due to have two smaller surgeries – one to retrieve her eggs and the other to conduct further testing on her bone marrow.

Zayli’s retrieved eggs will be frozen in case she wants to have children when she older.

“We’re in a really good place that they offer this,” Mrs King said.

“We want to give her the best chance later in life.”

Zayli is expected to soon start chemotherapy which will last for 8-10 months.

Mrs King said in the midst of the pain, the family had experienced both hard and beautiful moments, feeling the support of the community, and finding their Christian faith again.

“We’re in the best care, a beautiful network of family and friends and community,” she said.

“We found a spot on the grass and celebrated my 50th birthday.

“And we had Mother’s Day in Hospital, that was a tough day.

“We have our tough days, but we’re making the most of it.”

Mrs King said she and her husband had taken time off work to be by their daughter’s side and were grateful for fundraising efforts of their family and friends.

She said Zayli’s school, Torquay College, had sent gifts and video messages and was raising money for Ronald McDonald house.

“We understand everyone’s doing it tough right now, and we want to thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts,” she said.

Mrs King said all things considered, Zayli was doing well.

“She’s a little trooper,” she said.

To support Zayli and her family visit their GoFundMe page.

Originally published as Eight-year-old Torquay girl Zayli King battles bone cancer